Enter records

ID: 65016
Title: Circulation of A2 subclade of Avipoxvirus in pigeons of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India
Author: Sujatha Tamilvanan, Arun Kumar De*, Jai Sunder, Gayatri Samaddar, Perumal Ponraj, Sneha Sawhney, Debasis Bhattacharya and Eaknath Bhanudasrao Chakurkar
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2023
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 125 (8) 896-900 (2023)
Subject: Circulation of A2 subclade of Avipoxvirus in pigeons of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India
Keywords: Avipoxvirus, chicken, clade and subclade, fowlpox virus, pigeon.
Abstract: Genus Avipoxvirus, an important member of the family Poxviridae, has 12 species which have been recognized by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV). Fowlpox virus and pigeonpox virus are two important species that may affect other species of birds, besides chicken and fowl. Hence, accurately identifying species, clades and subclades of Avipoxvirus is vital to design and implement adequate control strategies. The present study was carried out in a pigeon colony showing symptoms of pox. A fragment of viral Pan-genus 4b (P4b) gene was amplified and sequenced. As an equivocal and prototype species, sequence information of fowlpox virus isolated from an infected bird was also generated. The generated sequence information was compared with those of previously reported strains. It was found that both fowlpox and pigeonpox viruses belonged to clade A, and there was circulation of A1 and A2 subclades in chicken and pigeon respectively. From India, one report showed the circulation of A1 and A3 subclades in Indian chickens and pigeons respectively, since the other reports were based on clinical symptoms, histopathological examination and comparison of sequence information with those available without distinct demarcation of clade and subclade of Avipoxvirus. This study describes the findings of the novel A2 subclade of Avipoxvirus and the existence of pigeonpox in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Williams, R. A. J., Truchado, D. A. and Benitez, L. A., Review on the prevalence of poxvirus disease in free-living and captive wild birds. Microbiol. Res., 2021, 12, 403–418. Lefkowitz, E. J., Dempsey, D. M., Hendrickson, R. C., Orton, R. J., Siddell, S. G. and Smith, D. B., Virus taxonomy: the database of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV). Nucleic Acids Res., 2018, 46, D708–D717
Literature cited 2: Walker, P. J. et al., Changes to virus taxonomy and the Statutes ratified by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses, Arch. Virol., 2020, 165, 2737–2748. Adams, M. J. et al., Ratification vote on taxonomic proposals to the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. Arch. Virol., 2016, 161, 2921–2949.

ID: 65015
Title: Utilizing machine learning algorithm, cloud computing platform and remote sensing satellite data for impact assessment of flood on agriculture land
Author: Himanshu Kumar, Rohan Kumar , Sujay Dutta , Magan Singh and Sateesh Kr. Karwariya
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2023
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 125 (8) 886-895 (2023)
Subject: Utilizing machine learning algorithm, cloud computing platform and remote sensing satellite data for impact assessment of flood on agriculture land
Keywords: Agriculture, cloud computing platforms, floods, machine learning algorithm, remote sensing data.
Abstract: Floods are one of the most devastating natural disasters that cause immense damage to life, property and agriculture worldwide. Recurring floods in Bihar (a state in eastern India) during the monsoon season impact the agro-based economy, destroying crops and making it difficult for farmers to prepare for the next season. To mitigate the impact of floods on the agricultural sector, there is a need for early warning systems. Nowadays, remote sensing technology is used extensively for monitoring and managing flood events, which is also used in the present study. The random forest (RF) machine learning (ML) algorithm has also been used for land-use classification, and its output is used as an input for flood impact assessment. Here, we have analysed the flood extents and their impact on agriculture using Sentinel-1 SAR, Sentinel-2 and Planet Scope optical imageries on the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud computing platform. The present study shows that floods severely impacted a large part of Bihar during the monsoon seasons of 2020 and 2021. About 701,967 ha of land (614,706 ha agricultural land) in 2020 and 955,897 ha (851,663 ha agricultural land) in 2021 were severely flooded. An inundation maps and area statistics have been generated to visualise the results, which can help the government authorities prioritize relief and rescue operations.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Freer, J., Beven, K., Neal, J., Schumann, G., Hall, J. and Bates, P., Flood risk and uncertainty. In Risk and Uncertainty Assessment for Natural Hazards (eds Rougier, J., Sparks, S. and Hill, L.), Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2013, pp. 190–233; https://doi.org/ 10.1017/CBO9781139047562.008. Kumar, H., Karwariya, S. K. and Kumar, R., Google earth engine-based identification of flood extent and flood-affected paddy rice fields using Sentinel-2 MSI and sentinel-1 SAR data in Bihar state, India. J. Indian Soc. Remote Sensing, 2022; https://doi.org/10.1007/ s12524-021-01487-3
Literature cited 2: . Torres, R., Snoeij, P., Geudtner, D., Bibby, D., Davidson, M., Attema, E., Potin, P. and Traver, I. N., GMES Sentinel-1 mission. Remote Sensing Environ., 2012, 120, 9–24; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse. 2011.05.028. Schumann, G. J., Brakenridge, G. R., Kettner, A. J., Kashif, R. and Niebuhr, E., Assisting flood disaster response with earth observation data and products: a critical assessment. Remote Sensing, 2018, 10(8), 1230; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs10081230.

ID: 65014
Title: Impact of floods and landslides on beneficial soil microbes and nutrients in selected high ranges of Kerala, India
Author: A. Haseena, K. Surendra Gopal and S. Sandeep
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2023
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 125 (8) 878-885 (2023)
Subject: Impact of floods and landslides on beneficial soil microbes and nutrients in selected high ranges of Kerala, India
Keywords: Floods, high-range areas, landslides, microbial community, soil nutrients
Abstract: To ascertain the impacts of flood-affected and landslide impacted soils on the microbial community and soil nutrient status, an assessment between disturbed and undisturbed soils was conducted. Without discernible differences between soils impacted by flooding and landslides, the total bacterial and fungal population had decreased in disturbed soils. The lack of organic carbon and copper in flood-affected soils profoundly impacted the bacterial population. The disturbed soils were found to have reduced organic carbon, nitrogen and micronutrients. The microbial isolates that persisted even in these degraded conditions may be considered potential bioagents for the restoration of disturbed soils
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Rodriguez, R. and Durán, P., Natural holobiome engineering by using native extreme microbiome to counter act the climate change effects. Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol., 2020, 8, 568; doi:10.3389/ fbioe.2020.00568. Walker, L. R., The Biology of Disturbed Habitats, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2012
Literature cited 2: Shiels, A. B., Walker, L. R. and Thompson, D. B., Organic matter inputs variable resource patches on Puerto Rico landslides. Plant Ecol., 2006, 184, 223–236; doi:10.1007/s11258-005-9067-2. Walker, L. R., Zarin, D. J., Fetcher, N., Myster, R. W. and Johnson, A. H., Ecosystem development and plant succession on landslides in the Caribbean. Biotropica, 1996, 28(4a), 566–576; doi:10.2307/ 2389097.

ID: 65013
Title: Difference in synonymous polymorphism related to codon degeneracy between co-transcribed genes in the genome of Escherichia coli
Author: Pratyush Kumar Beura , Piyali Sen , Ruksana Aziz , Chayanika Chetia , Madhusmita Dash , Siddhartha Shankar Satapathy and Suvendra Kumar Ray
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2023
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 125 (8) 871-877 (2023)
Subject: Difference in synonymous polymorphism related to codon degeneracy between co-transcribed genes in the genome of Escherichia coli
Keywords: Base substitution, codon degeneracy, co-transcribed genes, replication and transcription, synonymous polymorphism
Abstract: In our study, we compared synonymous polymorphism in co-transcribed gene pairs within five well-known Escherichia coli operons (rpoB/C, lacZ/Y, kdpA/B, araB/A and bcsA/B). Interestingly, the transition to transversion ratio between gene pairs were different due to their compositional differences of two-fold and four-fold degenerate codons. The differences in polymorphism spectra were more pronounced in four-fold and six-fold codons compared to two-fold degenerate codons. Notably, rpoB and rpoC showed significant distinctions in UCC, GUA, CCG, GCU, GGC and CGC codons. Similar trends were observed in other gene pairs, particularly in higher degenerate codons. Notably, two-fold degenerate codons primarily exhibited synonymous polymorphisms through transitions, while higher degenerate codons encompassed both transition and transversion events. This underscores the intriguing role of degenerate codons in molecular evolution.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Rocha, E. P. C., Touchon, M. and Feil, E. J., Similar compositional biases are caused by very different mutational effects. Genome Res., 2006, 16(12), 1537–1547. Kino, K. and Sugiyama, H., Possible cause of G.C→C.G transversion mutation by guanine oxidation product imidazolone. Chem. Biol., 2001, 8, 369–378.
Literature cited 2: Lobry, J. R., Asymmetric substitution patterns in the two DNA strands of bacteria. Mol. Biol. Evol., 1996, 13, 660–665. Bulte, J. W., Zhang, S., van Gelderen, P., Herynek, V., Jordan, E. K., Duncan, I. D. and Frank, J. A., Neurotransplantation of magnetically labeled oligodendrocyte progenitors: magnetic resonance tracking of cell migration and myelination. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 1999, 96(26), 15256–15261

ID: 65012
Title: Pollination efficiency of stingless bee, Tetragonula iridipennis (Smith) on greenhouse cucumber, Cucumis sativus (Linnaeus)
Author: Sourav Sen, Shimantini Borkataki , Pranjit Sutradhar , Ritu Ranjan Taye , Badal Bhattacharyya , P. S. Saranya , S. P. Nanda and M. Devender Reddy
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2023
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 125 (8) 865-870 (2023)
Subject: Pollination efficiency of stingless bee, Tetragonula iridipennis (Smith) on greenhouse cucumber, Cucumis sativus (Linnaeus)
Keywords: Cucumber, foraging activity, pollination efficiency, stingless bee, yield.
Abstract: The present study deals with the foraging activities and pollination efficiency of Tetragonula iridipennis in cucumber (Cucumis sativus) under protected conditions. Experiments were conducted during two seasons (summer and winter) with three different treatments: open pollination (OP), pollinator exclusion (PE) and stingless bee pollination (SBP) in Assam, North East India. The foraging activity of T. iridipennis was checked in SBP treatment at different timings after installing a 15,504 cm3 beehive. The pollination efficiency of T. iridipennis was also examined among the three selected treatments. The peak period of visitation on cucumber flowers was recorded during 0800-0900 h of the day during both seasons. The yield increase of SBP over PE during both seasons was five times higher. These findings indicate the significance of T. iridipennis as an effective pollinator in greenhouse cucumbers.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Guerra-Sanz, J. M., Crop pollination in greenhouses. Bee Pollination in Agricultural Ecosystems, Oxford University Press, New York, 2008, vol. 3, pp. 27–47. Azmi, W. A., Samsuri, N. U., Hatta, M. F., Ghazi, R. O. and Chau, T. S., Effects of stingless bee (Heterotrigona itama) pollination on greenhouse cucumber (Cucumis sativus). Malays. Appl. Biol., 2017, 46(1), 51–55.
Literature cited 2: de Oliveira, C. D. and de Oliveira, C. A., Polinização por abelhas em cultivos protegidos. Curr. Agric. Sci. Technol., 2009, 15, 1–4. Hanh, T. T. M., Sharma, S. K. and Rana, M. K., Pollination efficiency of native bee pollinators of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) in India. J. Apicult., 2014, 29(3), 199–205

ID: 65011
Title: Comparative study of pigments used in 16th–17th century CE tempera mural art from Malayadipatti and Adiyamankottai temple, Tamil Nadu, India
Author: Anjali Sharma, Manager Rajdeo Singh, S. Vinodh Kumar and Manoj Pratap Singh
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2023
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 125 (8) 853-864 (2023)
Subject: Comparative study of pigments used in 16th–17th century CE tempera mural art from Malayadipatti and Adiyamankottai temple, Tamil Nadu, India
Keywords: Art restoration, binders, mural paintings, pigments.
Abstract: Eight micro-samples from mural paintings of Malayadipatti and Adiyamankottai temples in Tamil Nadu, India were studied using binocular microscopy, thin film crystal X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, micro-Raman spectroscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy to understand the original constituent materials of the pigments, binders and the methods of painting. Red paint had a mixture of cinnabar and hematite. The yellow colour resulted from orpiment. Orange hues were produced a mixture of orpiment and hematite. Grey colour was produced by a mixture of calcium carbonate and manganese dioxide. Black tones were prepared primarily using lamp black. The minerals used in both the temples were nearly identical. The appearance of proteinaceous materials/oils as a binding medium in all samples indicated the use of a tempera wall painting technique. These findings help improve our understanding of the methods and materials used in mural arts and serve as a guide for their future restoration.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: https://www.trawell.in/tamilnadu/tiruchirappalli/malayadipatti-rockcut-temples (accessed on 25 March 2021). Saxena, S., Malayadipatti – the hill of the holy. Puratattva, 2011; https://puratattva.in/2011/01/08/maliyadipatti-the-hill-of-the-holy-25 (accessed on 25 March 2021)
Literature cited 2: Sivaramamurti, C., South Indian Paintings, National Museum, 1968. Original from, the University of Michigan, Digitized, 1 July 2011, ISBN: 8123000529, 9788123000527. Kannan, R. and Balasubramanian, R., Tiruppudaimarudur Murals and Wood Carvings: Documentation of the Murals and Wood Carvings in the Narumpoonathaswami Temple, Tiruppudaimarudur. Bulletin of the Madras Government Museum, New series, general section, 2014.

ID: 65010
Title: Does socio-economic dynamics influence crop yield variability?
Author: Avik Mukherjee, Pinaki Roy, Debankur Sanyal , T. N. Roy and Shih-Yu (Simon) Wang
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2023
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 125 (8) 846-852 (2023)
Subject: Does socio-economic dynamics influence crop yield variability?
Keywords: Agricultural technologies, crop production, farmers, policies and subsidies, socio-economic factors
Abstract: The present study examines the current research on how socio-economic factors affect the decision-making process and adoption of agricultural technologies by farmers in crop production scheduling. It reviews existing literature to identify gaps in knowledge and determine the most relevant factors influencing crop production in Northwest India from 2016 to 2021. The study finds that socio-economic factors, such as education, age, awareness and financial limitations, significantly impact farmers’ decision-making when it comes to crop planning. Additionally, societal issues like politics and religion also influence crop output. The study suggests that government policies and subsidies can help improve farmers’ livelihoods, and effective communication from agricultural scientists can encourage the adoption of affordable and environmentally friendly production technologies. However, the study emphasizes the need for more primary data to address socio-economic constraints in intervention efforts.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Roy, P. and Bhattacharyya, S., Doubling farmers’ income: its necessity and possibilities in Indian context. Indian J. Agric. Sci., 2020, 90(9), 3–9. Roy, P. and Kaur, M., Status and problems of paddy straw management in West Bengal. I
Literature cited 2: Ramakrishnan, P. S., Shifting agriculture and sustainable development: an inter-disciplinary study from north-eastern India. Parthenon Publishing Group, Paris, France, 1992. Giller, K. E., Rowe, E. C., De Ridder, N. and Keulen, V. H., Resource use dynamics and interactions in the tropics; scaling up in space and time. Agric. Syst., 2006, 88, 8–27.

ID: 65009
Title: Rhizosphere–plant–microbial system under polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons-induced stress
Author: Kavita Verma , Pooja Gokhale Sinha , Garima Sharma , Surbhi Agarwal , Anita Verma and Vartika Mathur
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2023
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: The rhizosphere–plant–microbial association is a complex and intricate system susceptible to various organic pollutants, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Since the soil acts as a sink of PAH, their accumulation shifts the delicate rhizosphere–plant–microbe equilibrium and enters the food chain through plants. How the presence of PAH in the rhizosphere affects the rhizosphere–plant–microbial system is still unclear. This study aims to understand the effects of PAH on rhizosphere–plant–microbial interactions. It also explores the potential use of microbes to alleviate PAH-induced stress in the soil for effective and sustainable management.
Subject: Rhizosphere–plant–microbial system under polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons-induced stress
Keywords: Bioaccumulation, microbe-mediated remediation, persistent organic pollutants, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
Abstract: The rhizosphere–plant–microbial association is a complex and intricate system susceptible to various organic pollutants, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Since the soil acts as a sink of PAH, their accumulation shifts the delicate rhizosphere–plant–microbe equilibrium and enters the food chain through plants. How the presence of PAH in the rhizosphere affects the rhizosphere–plant–microbial system is still unclear. This study aims to understand the effects of PAH on rhizosphere–plant–microbial interactions. It also explores the potential use of microbes to alleviate PAH-induced stress in the soil for effective and sustainable management
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Chen, X. et al., Past, present, and future perspectives on the assessment of bioavailability/bioaccessibility of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: a 20-year systemic review based on scientific econometrics. Sci. Total Environ., 2021, 774, 145585. Shen, H. et al., Global atmospheric emissions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from 1960 to 2008 and future predictions. Environ. Sci. Technol., 2013, 47, 6415–6424.
Literature cited 2: Zhang, Y. and Tao, S., Global atmospheric emission inventory of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) for 2004. Atmos. Environ., 2009, 43, 812–819. Kumar, A., Ambade, B., Sankar, T. K., Sethi, S. S. and Kurwadkar, S., Source identification and health risk assessment of atmospheric PM2. 5-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Jamshedpur, India. Sustain. Cit. Soc., 2020, 52, 101801

ID: 65008
Title: National Initiative on Undergraduate Science programme in chemistry
Author: Indrani Das Sen and Savita Ladage
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2023
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 125 (8) 831-836 (2023)
Subject: National Initiative on Undergraduate Science programme in chemistry
Keywords: Chemistry, national initiative, nurture programmes, student camps, teacher workshops, undergraduate science education.
Abstract: The article discusses the National Initiative on Undergraduate Science (NIUS) programme in chemistry conducted by the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (TIFR), Mumbai, which was initiated in 2004. Being located in a science education research and development institution, the programme has made efforts to interact with chemistry teachers and first-year undergraduate students and, thus, is different when compared to similar programmes within the country. The article reviews the key ideas of the programme, its growth and evolution to date and likely directions for its expansion in the near future.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: https://www.jncasr.ac.in/academic/fandeprogrammes/ (accessed on January 2023). Position paper on retention of talent; http://www.psa.gov.in/sites/ default/files/file6.pdf (accessed in October 2014), but not accessible now
Literature cited 2: https://nius.hbcse.tifr.res.in/nius-proposal-2004/ (accessed on January 2023). https://nius.hbcse.tifr.res.in/subjects/chemistry/ (accessed on January 2023).

ID: 65007
Title: Defining the ‘urban critical zone’ for global sustainable development
Author: Arkaprabha Sarkar, Vicky Shankar, Vimal Singh*, Iain Stewart, Shashank Shekhar and Vinayak Sinha
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2023
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 125 (8) 824-830 (2023)
Subject: Defining the ‘urban critical zone’ for global sustainable development
Keywords: Ecosystem services, natural environments, planetary boundary layer, sustainable development, urban critical zone
Abstract: With urbanization, cities are becoming new landscapes, significantly altering the properties, processes and pathways of previous natural environments. The natural critical zones that have existed for millennia are rapidly getting modified by the superimposition of the urban components to give rise to a new critical zone system, viz. the urban critical zone. The clogging and bypassing of the natural process pathways and the increasing demands of urban populations for ecosystem services put the native critical zone and the adjoining zones under stress. To elucidate this point, we present a case study on Delhi, the capital city of India, to demonstrate how the urban critical zone is unsustainable. We exemplify the increasing demand and supply gap of basic ecosystem services, such as clean air and water, that are essential to sustain life. In doing so, we redefine the limits of the critical zone in urban areas, recognizing that significant parts of cities are beyond the presently defined critical zone.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: McPhearson, T. et al., A vision for resilient urban futures. Resilient Urban Futures, Springer Nature, Switzerland, 2021, p. 173. Steffen, W. et al., Global Change and the Earth System: A Planet under Pressure, Springer Science & Business Media, Berlin, 2006.
Literature cited 2: National Research Council, Basic research opportunities in earth science. National Academies Press, Washington, 2011. White, T., Special focus: the US Critical Zone Observatories. International Innovation August, 2012, pp. 108–127.

ID: 65006
Title: Need to declare the Higher Himalaya an eco-sensitive zone
Author: Shubhra Sharma and Anil D. Shukla
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2023
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 125 (8) 822-823 (2023)
Subject: Need to declare the Higher Himalaya an eco-sensitive zone
Keywords: Need to declare, Higher Himalaya, eco-sensitive zone
Abstract: The recent disasters in Uttarakhand, India (e.g. 2013 Kedarnath, 2021 Rishi Ganga and 2023 Joshimath) and Himachal Pradesh (e.g. 2000 and 2013 Satluj–Kinnaur floods and 2023 Beas floods) have reignited the debate of anthropogenic impact on Higher Himalayan valleys and potentially increased impact of disasters in the region1 . It is feared that under the impending climate change scenario, the sustainability of the geologically fragile Higher Himalayan ecosystem would be threatened, endangering the safety of infrastructure such as habitation sites, roads and hydropower projects. The climate sensitive Higher Himalaya is not only the abode of endemic and endangered flora and fauna but also contains a large number of glaciers which sustain millions of people inhabiting the Indo-Gangetic Plains. Therefore, it is now being increasingly considered that similar to the Bhagirathi Eco-Sensitive Zone, the river stretches between the headwaters till the southern flank of the Main Central Thrust (MCT) covering a stretch of ~125 km should be declared as eco-sensitive zones
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Cohen, J. et al., Nature Geosci., 2014, 7(9), 627–637. Blöthe, J. H. and Korup, O., Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 2013, 382, 38–46
Literature cited 2: Sundriyal, Y. P. et al., Episode, 2015, 38, 179–188. Sharma, S., Shukla, A. D., Bartarya, S. K., Marh, B. S. and Juyal, N., Geomorphology, 2017, 290, 317–334.

ID: 65005
Title: Rural electrification using hybrid solar-wind energy systems
Author: S. K. Satheesh
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2023
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 125 (8) 811-812 (2023)
Subject: Rural electrification using hybrid solar-wind energy systems
Keywords: Rural electrification,hybrid solar-wind energy systems
Abstract: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assessment reports have warned us about the impact of climate change. This is highlighted by the rise in greenhouse gas concentrations over the past 50 years, which has led to an observed increase in global mean temperature. Warming of the atmosphere and oceans, diminishing amounts of snow and ice, increase in sea level, and increase in the concentrations of greenhouse gases have been observed. Observed temperature during each of the last three decades has been successively higher than previous decades. IPCC reports indicate that surface temperature change by the end of the 21st century will likely exceed 1.5 to 2°C relative to pre-industrial times. If the emissions of greenhouse gases continue, it can lead to further increase in temperature with consequent changes in most of the components of the climate system. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has predicted many consequences. Increasingly rapid sea level rise, melting of glaciers, increase in the number of extreme weather events, adverse impacts on biodiversity are some examples. Reducing the consequences of climate change demand significant reductions of greenhouse gas emissions. For India, climate change is not just a science issue but involves several other factors such as economics, water-energy-food security, health, insurance, law, international policy and so on.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
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ID: 65004
Title: Annual Review of Plant Biology 2021.
Author: Sabeeha S. Merchant, Wilhelm Gruissem and Donald R. Reviewed by Sudhir K Sopory
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2023
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 125 (7) 790-792 (2023)
Subject: Annual Review of Plant Biology 2021.
Keywords: Annual Review, Plant Biology, 2021.
Abstract: This volume contains 131 well-compiled reviews contributed by experts mainly from USA, Europe, Canada and a few from Japan, Vietnam, etc. The prefatory chapter is by Maarten Koornneef (Max Planck Institute (MPI), Germany and Wageningen University (WU), The Netherlands). Broadly, the volume has two chapters on light perception – one on phytochrome and the other on UV receptors. Following different environmental clues, plants produce various signals. There is a chapter on histidine kinases and two-component signaling. The role of ions as regulated by ion channels and salicylic acid as a signal in defence and other responses is covered in two elaborate reviews. A major portion of the book is devoted to new work that has been reported to explain various developmental responses. Accordingly, there is a chapter each on cell cycle, tuberous and tuber root development, regulation of leaf shape and epidermis, and development of male gametophyte. In addition, there is a review on pollen–pistil interactions and embryogenesis
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
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ID: 65003
Title: Nutraceutical studies of Solanum torvum Swartz.
Author: Acharya Balkrishna, Rama Shankar, Rashmi A. Joshi, Monali Joshi, Uday Bhan Prajapati , Anupam Srivastava and Vedpriya Arya
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2023
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 125 (7) 784-788 (2023)
Subject: Nutraceutical studies of Solanum torvum Swartz.
Keywords: Biochemical composition, geographical distribution, nutritional value, Solanum torvum, taxonomic study
Abstract: The present study deals with the taxonomic details, geographical distribution and nutritional aspects of Solanum torvum Swartz. used as a vegetable in the states of Northeast India as well as in several South Indian states. It is also widely distributed in Uttarakhand, though its edible uses have not been reported from this small state in North India. We conducted a study on the nutritional potential of S. torvum berries by evaluating fat, carbohydrates, proteins, energy, total ash and water content using standard methods. HPLC profiling, as well as HPTLC were performed using an in-house protocol developed at Patanjali Research Foundation, Haridwar, Uttarakhand. The presence of triterpenoids, glycosides, alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, saponins and tannins indicates the nutritional and medicinal importance of S. torvum. Biochemical compounds like carbohydrates (15.5% w/w), proteins (0.31%), fats (1.09% w/w), total ash (1.03% w/w) and water content (82.41%) represent its appreciable nutritional value, especially as a low-fat diet and also its contribution to fighting against nutrient deficiencies.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Ilodibia, C. V., Akachukwu, E. E., Chukwuma, M. U., Igboabuchi, N. A., Adimonyemma, R. N. and Okeke, N. F., Proximate, phytochemical and antimicrobial studies on Solanumm acrocarpon L. J. Adv. Biol. Biotechnol., 2016, 9(2), 1–7. Famuwagun, A. A., Taiwo, K. A., Gbadamosi, S. O., Oyedele, D. J., Aluko, R. E. and Adebooye, O. C., Extraction optimization and antioxidant properties of African eggplant (Solanum macrocarpon) leaf polyphenols. J. Food Qual., 2017, 1–14; http://doi.org/10. 1155/2017/2159183
Literature cited 2: Namani, S., Paripelli, S., Chinni, S. V., Kasi, M., Subramaniam, S. and Rathinam, X., In vitro anti-oxidant assay, HPLC profiling of polyphenolic compounds, AAS and FTIR spectrum of Malaysian origin Solanum torvum fruit. Indian J. Pharm. Educ. Res., 2016, 50(2), S11–S20. Eletta, O. A. A., Orimolade, B. O., Oluwaniyi, O. O. and Dosumu, O. O., Evaluation of proximate and antioxidant activities of Ethiopian eggplant (Solanum aethiopicum L.) and Gboma eggplant (Solanumm acrocarpon L.). J. Appl. Sci. Environ. Manage., 2017, 21(5), 967–972.

ID: 65002
Title: Genetic analysis of brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) based on microsatellite markers
Author: Soumya Bharati Babu , Govindharaj Guru-Pirasanna-Pandi, C. Parameswaran , Jayaraj Padhi , G. Basana-Gowda , M. Annamalai, Naveenkumar Patil , Chanchala Meher , S. Sabarinathan and Prakash Chandra Rath
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2023
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 125 (7) 777-783 (2023)
Subject: Genetic analysis of brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) based on microsatellite markers
Keywords: Brown planthopper, genetic diversity, microsatellite markers, monsoon, rice
Abstract: Brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) is one of the most destructive pests of rice in Southeast Asia. It expresses a differential reaction to resistant rice cultivars and various insecticide groups in different geographic locations. Therefore, genetic diversity among N. lugens populations must be understood for their effective management. Hence, in the present study, the genetic structure and diversity of 22 N. lugens populations collected from 22 hotspot regions of India were analysed using with genomic simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. Results revealed that the mean genetic diversity was 0.399 and polymorphic information content was 0.337 in the 30 selected SSR markers. Further, molecular variance revealed only a 2% variation among the populations and 98% within a population. In cluster and population structure analysis, all 22 populations were sub-grouped into three groups. Interestingly, the North and West Indian populations showed high genetic similarity and assembled into one cluster in cluster analysis. The East and South Indian populations were evenly segregated into the remaining two clusters. Similarly, the North and West Indian populations shared the same compartment in principal coordinate analysis. This variation might be associated with the N. lugens migration due to wind movement of the southwest monsoon in two branches, viz. Arabian Sea branch and Bay of Bengal branch. The present study provides molecular evidence for genetic variation among different populations of N. lugens in India. The information could be helpful to devise an efficient management strategy against this pest in different rice ecosystems.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Pathak, H., Tripathi, R., Jambhulkar, N. N., Bisen, J. P. and Panda, B. B., Eco-regional rice farming for enhancing productivity, profitability and sustainability, NRRI Research Bulletin No. 22, ICAR National Rice Research Institute, Cuttack, 2020, p. 28. Hunter, M. C., Smith, R. G., Schipanski, M. E., Atwood, L. W. and Mortensen, D. A., Agriculture in 2050: recalibrating targets for sustainable intensification. BioScience, 2017, 67(4), 386–391; https:// doi.org/10.1093/biosci/bix010
Literature cited 2: Mondal, D. et al., Yield loss assessment of rice (Oryza sativa L.) due to different biotic stresses under system of rice intensification (SRI). J. Entomol. Zool. Stud., 2017, 5(4), 1974–1980. Pandi, G. G. P., Chandar, S., Pal, M. and Soumia, P. S., Impact of elevated CO2 on Oryza sativa phenology and brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) population. Curr. Sci., 2018, 114(8), 1767–1777.